The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
THE SIN OF INDIFFERENCE.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PA.
RENTAL DUTY, THE HIGHEST TRUST
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT
HUMAN OBLIGATION.
Although Peter had Denied his Lord,
Yet He Entrusted Him with the
Feeding of His Lambs.

Delivered in the Methodist Church, before
the Abbeville County Sabbath School
Conference, at Abbeville, May 6, 1887,
by Rev. W. Smith Martin, Fourth Ami
versary orator.
"Feed my lambs"-John xxi, Is.
Our text Is suggestive as we'll as applicable,
and we take 1t, as foundation for the con-
sideratlon, of parental duty, anu parental re-
sponsibilty.
AS we are about to consider the most vital
subject underlying the social institution, and
the religious liie OF the world, would insist
that we In the very outset of this occasion,
feel the force of this command as applied to
us. Such n force is necessary, in order to feel
the applicable effect of Divine truth, touch
Ing and supporting the main principles OF our
Christian lives and characters ut any time
and upon all occasions.
| AS the chief mission OF Christian parents
should be TO rear, educate, and protect the
lambs intrusted to their care, deem 1t appro-
brance, the solemn duties of this solemn re-
lation. 1t Is the first and all Important sub
ject In time Of war, and in time of peace-in
time of any and all preparation for higher
and nobler attainments In the world of civil
ization, and in the advanced steps OF religious
| light and improvement.
| The world cannot advance to the neglect of
this subject. 1t must keep pace with all
|
Zation. All history shows that when this Is
neglected, there is corresponding nbate.
rnent of all the essential tral It's Of true life and
character, which, If not neglected, lead to per-
fiction, and eliminate In heaven.
| This family relation Is divinely designed as
the chief auxiliary for cultivating, developing
and bringing out all the purer and inner
feelings of the human heart, the development
Of which Is vast uncertainty, without these
home and parental Influences.
| This Peter had once asserted his willing
ness to die with Christ, and then when the
trial hour came, denied ever to have known
him. Having repented, and having wept bit
terly over his shameful folly and cowardiy
fall. he was again restored TO the favor anu
confidence OF his Master.
The whole scene Of human trial rs enacted
| and endured By the Saviour was now over.
The struggles Of tho cross had passed, the
death groans which had possessed his soul
morn MOI n had already glided Golgotha's bloody
heights, and the hearts of the anxious disci-
Piles had been gladdened by the confirmation
and ar dr. ruined T world. The Saviour and his dis.
ciples had partaken Of their last meal togetn-
er, and now before his final departure he
would settle and strengthen Peters faith by
way of remembrance.
This question, Simon Peter, son Of Jonas,
lowest thou me =" doubtless called to his mind
the denial he had so recently made. and
then the command which followed Peters
be forgotten in this connection, especially
when he had /: so frequently repeated to HIM.
Christ told Peter to feed the lambs notWith.
standing his past unfaithfulness. He did not
give him any special plan by WHICH to do the
work, but left him to do 1t according to the
best and most ettectual means afforded. This
is Gods economy to-day. both for Sunday
all church ard evangelical growth. Gods
plans Tor the accomplishment of right ore
very elastic. We are never shut up to any
apostolic rule or mode, but we are always left
| r. 1tx,tr or a. fn
the times and the demands OF the hour.
| Now, the lambs referred 10 In the text, were
the weak and helpless followers, who, like
Peter. were liable to fall. Jesus Christ intend,
ed that Peters experience should be worth
something to him. and that he should protect
and enlighten those under his care, and there
| by fortlfying them against his own mistakes.
He was exhorted as a test Of his love for
Christ, to feed the lambs and the sheep OF
God.
The force of this passage Is only felt when
we apply 1t to ourselves, and claim that as
| responsibility, as he stood related to those he
was expected to teach; 80 we to-day, should
feel Its force, as parents, standing closely re-
under his care and spiritual guidance,
The responsibility OF training the young is
| fearfully great In any department., but that OF
parents, moulding thought and feeling which
are 10 outlive family relatives and be lost
only in the infinite possibilities of eternity,
| Is by far the most important work and the
most fearful responsibility Of life No higher
honor could be conferred upon us than TO
have In trust the future welfare Of our own
offspring, and yet no greater responsibility
could be imposed.
A lasting honor always carries with 1t re-
sponsibility. Peters fall did not slacken res
possibility nor render less binding his lifetime
obligations. His denial OF Christ did not for,
ever disqualify him for feeding the flock, and
protecting those who were entrusted to his
care. Faith In Christ made the doubling re.
fat RI or nl nlnnnlv
was ready to do and to dare. His own eXper-
ience had been to him warning, and ialth
In God made him sympathetic, and with the
fled Shepherd of the fold of God. Listen to
the application. every parent in this congre-
CATION, and then think OF your own case.
AS the shortcomings OF Peter failed TO lessen
his duty or his obligations to God, so your
shortcomings and parental failures fail TO re-
lease you. God expects, yea demands, just as
much Of you as II you were fuily up 10 tne
great demands Of the hour. Duty done, does
not make the demand for future duty any
greater, and duty left undone, does not make
the future demand any less:
The possibilities OF your life and your duty
by the unavoidable circumstances which
surround you. and God expects you to reach
that standard.
it is with you to fnil, or not to fail, but re-
sponslbility stands the same. The poSsibili-
ties OF Peters life were just as binding when
he stood blaSphemingly denying Christ, as
when he stood before him and said, Yea,
Lord, thou knowesL that love thee" Peter
more the divine claim. but 1t still remained.
So II does with every man. AS parent you
may try to tighten yonr burdens by entrust-
ing the moral and spiritual education OF your
children to others, but my friend, your eH-
pertinent will fail.
Some think If they can get the Sunday:
school to take charge of the children thaI
they are free and the children safe. This IS
tLa oicto n nnrpntAl fe.I
Sunday school privileges do not lessen parent
al work. They only net Us auXiinries, TO as.
Sist In fixing indelibly upon the young nina
and heart, the great lessons OF right, OF truth,
and of God, Which We are expected TO begln
at home. The Christian parents who nre Nv
ing and depending on the Sunday school or
any other institution to do the work entrnst-
ed 10 their cure, are laboring undera delusion,
dren d lamcntable indifference.
The great command made OF every parent IS
to "feed" the "laln bs," and Sabbath school ad-
vantages are but part OF the food we are eX-
pected to impart unto them.
This expression has high and splrltua!
Significance. 1t means more than looking ai-
ter bodily wants. 1t means more than lntel-
lectual Improvement. II has reference to the
life OF faith, OF love, and Of spiritual attain
ment Parents In this country need but ILL,
tie Injunction as to the bodily comforts ana
benefits Of their children. There need be but
little said to them as to the pleasures and So
ciai advantages they should give them, but
the greater and higher interests of the chill,
dren have to be constantly insisted upon, ana
even then, thousands grow up un1ed, 70 1ain-
sh and die for want of parental spiritual care
o, how terrible the thought of boy or girl
being parentally neglected so far rs the nigh
er traits Of nature are concerned, while the
little grovellng, perShing customs Of life are
mucnified until the enlargement becomes Il
sin! The first duty OF the parent Is to look
AFTER cultivate, and improve the pure and
spotess traits Of It's compound nature. 70
succeed at this, one thing must be won, ana
one lesson carefully taught.
First, you must win the child's confidence.